Equatorial Guinea is a destination for people from nearby countries to enter illegally looking for work in its growing economy.

According to government officials, local authorities from both countries met to discuss and resolve the issue through diplomatic measures. “Cameroon is a friend to Equatorial Guinea,” saidPresident Teodoro Obiang Nguema MbasogoofEquatorial Guinea, “and we strive to maintain excellent relations with them directly and through our involvement in various regional institutions.”

The two countries have a history of cooperation. Since theCentral African Community was restructured in the 1990s, they have worked together to promote economic and infrastructure development in the region. Both countries participate in the Central African Customs and Economic Union, which Equatorial Guinea joined in 1984, as well as the Central African Economic and Monetary Community.

Equatorial Guinea also addressedborder issues with Gabonin February 25, 2011. The United Nations Secretary General praised the two countries for their “statesmanship” in solving the dispute and gave them full support from the United Nations.

Equatorial Guinea has had an increasingly active foreign policy and has emerged as a major player throughout the region and outside Africa in recent years. The nation hosted theAfrican Union Summitlast year and theAfrica Cup of Nations 2012, and it has been a frequentcontributor to humanitarian relief efforts, most recently sending theCongo Republic 400 tonnes of humanitarian aidin March to aid victims of a devastating explosion in the capital, Brazzaville.